The new No 4 jib is getting quite a work out and I am already happy to hoist it if the breeze is forecast to be above 18 knots. Today the forecast was for 23 knots so we started the long reach to Cannai Point with the No 4 jib and a full main. Ignoring the larger quick boats, Ichi Ban, Margaret Rintoul V and Duende, our usual competition, Blue Chip, Marloo and Sorcerer, set larger genoas and reefed mains. While the wind was strong we did well keeping ahead of these last three but when it lightened we were caught by Blue Chip. At one stage we hit 14.8 knots boat speed in a 35.4 knot wind gust which was some quite exciting sailing. At quite long periods the breeze dropped back to the 13 knot range where we were a bit too comfortable. There was even one point when Duende and Margaret Rintoul V were becalmed and we caught right up to be alongside their position. Simultaneously Sorcerer and Marloo caught up to us as we lost the ground gained during the 30 knot wind stage.
We rounded Cannai Point hard on the tail of Blue Chip and for a while in the very strong wind we held our own. Sorcerer behind had trouble in a big gust and lost a lot of time in a round up.
While we had the sheets cracked off to get down to the channel mark we held our own but as the wind headed Marloo came steaming through and Blue Chip built up a handy lead. We chased these two through Rose Bay and due to course uncertainty rounded the Point Piper mark on the way back to the finish line. It was not out of our way and Marloo had rounded it and headed off to round the island. Sorcerer which had now caught up to our tail also ran away as if to round the island. We were still beating to the finish when Marloo and Sorcerer changed direction and followed us home. They both made up a lot of ground on the hard beat home but the course was too short for them to catch the time they had lost in their respective detours.
I believe that with our handicap we would have beaten Sorcerer and Marloo on the day but judging by the finish times I think they threw away places to Duende and Blue Chip with their detours.
We were very happy with our second on handicap but more so pleased that the time differences were shorter than usual for windy conditions taking into account the short course. The angle of breeze suited us with a lot of the early beat back free enough to crack sheets and the stronger wind on the downwind leg also suited our light hull weight.
Maximum true wind speed 35.4 knots
Maximum boat speed 14.8 knots